Highway guard fence



1. BIANCHI 3,292,909

HIGHWAY GUARD FENCE Dec. zo, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 4, 1964 Dec. 20, 1966 LBIANCHI 3,292,909

' HIGHWAY GUARD FENCE Filed Aug. 4, v1964 Y 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

[van /h c/v/l W Mw Dec. zo, 1966 l. BIANCHI 3,292,909.

HIGHWAY GUARD FENCE Filed Aug. 4, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A B C INVENTOR [van B/nch/ Dec. 20, 1966 l. BIANCHI 3,292,909

HIGHWAY GUARD FENCE Filed Aug. 4, 1964 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR. van Blanch:

M45/CM United States Patent O M 3,292,909 HIGHWAY GUARD FENCE Ivan Bianchi, Riva Caccia 1, Lugano, Switzerland Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser.'No. 387,335 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 10, 1963, 9,967/63; Dec. 13, 1963, 15,336/63 9 Claims. (Cl. 256-13.1)

The present invention relates to a protective barrier which provides considerable operational safety, and requires a minimum of installation and service expenses while it may be immediately adapted to any type of motor road.

The barrier of t-he invention comprises a succession of adjacent barrier sections. Each section includes two vertical end supports delimiting each section and being spaced apart by more than two motor vehicle lengths, and a pair of support elements, such as sheaves, freely rotatably mounted on the end supports. A plurality of cables in the form of continuous loops are mounted in tensioned condition between the end supports on the support elements, and elastic means is arranged to face the l road and to protect t-he end supports and t-he support elements from direct contact with an oncoming motor Vehicle. Such a barrier for road shoulders and medians prevents motor vehicles from 'leaving the road and guides them back into the original direction of travel. A plurality of spaced apart anti-glare screens are arranged along the barrier obliquelyin respect of the direction of elongation of the road and barrier. Each of the end supports may carry an anti-glare screen and additional screens may be carried by support posts positioned between the end supports.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cables may be of steel and are guided under tension by two end sheaves rplaced on suitable supports fixedly mounted in a concrete footing founded in the road shoulder or in the median.

According to another very important embodiment, eao'h of said supports is protected from direct collision with an oncoming vehicle by a wheel rotating about a substantially vertical axis which is disposed coaxially to the support, projects toward the road beyond the support elements for said cables and is peripherally provided with a shock absorbing member.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which show some preferred but non limitative embodiments of t-he invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of a rst embodiment of the protective barrier of the invention adapted to be used in a road median, the elastic protection for the end supports being omitted to show the supports;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding top view including the elastic end support protectors;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of an end support;

FIG. 4 is an axial section through the support of FIG. 3; Y

FIG. 5 is a top view of the support of FIG. 3 and its protector;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the support of FIG. 6, wherein the two upper sheaves have been removed;

FIG. 8 is an axial section of FIG. 7.

The characteristics, the advantages and the operation of the barrier of the invention will be better understood from the .following considerations.

As shown in FIG. 1, the barrier comprises a succession of adjacent barrier sections A-B, B-C, etc. an'd each barrier has two cables or like exible elongated elements,

Patented Dec. 20, 1966 such as ropes and the nlike. Each ycable is in the form of a continuous loop, cables 1 4and 2 forming section A-B and cables 3 and 4 forming section B-C. Cable 1 is supported on -freely rotata-ble support elements constituted by sheaves 5 and 6, cable 2 is similarly supported on like sheaves 5 and 6', cable 3 is similarly supported on like sheaves 5 and 6", land cable 4 is similarly supported on like sheaves 5" and 6. All the sheaves are freelyrotatably mounted on each end support. The end supports include, respectively, a tubular :base member 9 or 10 embedded in concrete footing 11 yand carrying Ibase plate 15 to which is welded a tubular shaft 7 or 8 on which the sheaves are freely rotatably journaled and whose grooves hold and guide each cable. The concrete footings are sunk into the median if the Ibarrier is to be used as a divider o-r into the road shoulders if it is to serve -as 1a guardrail. Respective spacing sleeves 35, 35', 35 4and 35 are mounted on the support shafts between the sheaves to ymaintain La desired spacing therebetween, and a protective cap 12 is mounted on the shafts over the sheaves.

As appears clearly from FIGS. 3 and 4, the pair of cables of one ybarrier section is vertically displaced in relation to the pair of cables -of the adjacent barrier section, i.e. while cables 3 and 4 `are guided on the first and third sheaves, cables 1 `and 2 of the adjacent section are guided on the second and fourth sheaves so that the tensional stresses on each support are counterbalranced and, also so that the distance Kbetween one pair of cables is the same 4as that between the pair of cables in the adjacent section.

To protect the end supports and the support elements from direct contact with an oncoming vehicle, they lare protected by elastic 4means arranged to face the road, the elastic means illustrated in FIG. 5 including two elastic fenders 20 and 21. The fender 20 is fixed t-o post 23 by screws 24 while its end 20 is free to slide .along post 25. The fender 21, on the other hand, is :screwed to post 25 Iat 21 While its end 21 is free to slide along post 23. This protection for the en-d posts of .-a median barrier is adapted rto provide elastically yielding displacement of the protecting fenders, permitting longitudinal sliding of the fender in the direction of elongation of the road whether the oncoming vehicle strikes the fender in the direction of arrows 26 Ior 27.

The end supports carry anti-glare screens on poles 7', and 8 Iand arranged along the barrier obliquely in respect of the vdirection of elongation of the road and barrier, as appears most clearly from FIG. 2. In addition, each section may have an anti-glare plate or Wire net fixed to posts 23, 25 Iand, if the barrier sections are very long, intermediate posts 36 may carry additional obliquely arranged anti-glare screens 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the antieglare screens may carry useful inscriptions, such as advertising messages or road directions.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 8, like Vreference numerals are used for like parts to avoid duplication of description.

Basically, this embodiment differs yfrom the one described hereinabove only by the dierent elastic protector for the end supports and some modification in the structure of the end supports, all parts carrying the same reference numerals as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 having the same structure .and functioning in the same manner.

The end supports are of reinforced con-crete, consisting of a concrete footing 11 having embedded therein a tubular base 9 receiving the tubular shaft 8 lled with con-crete. A flanged connecting piece 45 holds the tubular shaft in position in relation to the tubular base and an annular shoulder 44 is welded to the tubular shaft to hold the lowest sheave 6" on the shaft against vertical displacement.

A wheel 39 is mounted on each end support for rot-ation about a vertical axis and a shock absorbing member 40 is placed over the periphery of the wheel, the wheel projecting towards the road beyond the sheaves 6, 6', 6, 6', the diameter of the wheel being larger than that of the sheaves. As shown in FIG. 8, the shock absorbing member is a semipneumatic, thick rubber tulbe having an air-filled annular cavity 41 of small diameter in respect to the outer diameter of the rubber tube.' This type of protection is preferred because it eliminates the need for special support posts and fastening means. j

Experience has shown that the cables Iof conventional cable barriers act like Whips when ruptured, extending over the entire roadway and thus endangering passing vehicles. This whip action is 'due to the fixed attachment of the cable ends to their supports so :that the two broken pieces of the cable, each having an end fixedly attached to a support, transmit their entire elastic deformation energy accumulated before rupture to the supponts. Since the cables of the present barrier are not ri'gidly'attached `to their end supports, they will assume their original dimensions by natural extension in case of rupture and will not extend into the road.

Also, since the conti-nuous cable loop has twice the length of the barrier section, the section length and the absorbed elastic shock energy being equal, the total elastic deformation is twice as large as in cable barriers with a single length of cable and collision between an oncoming vehicle- :and the barrier takes pla-oe much more gradually so that the cable is ruptured more rarely.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective barrier for roa'd shoulders and medians to prevent motor vehicles from leaving the road and to guide them back into the original direction of travel, com prising a succession of adjacent barrier sections, each section including (1) two vertical end supports delimiting each section and being spaced apart by more than two motor ve-hicle lengths, the vertical axes of the end supports ldefining a plane of symmetry for said barrier, said pla-ne of symmetry extending substantially parallel to the road;

(2) a plurality of cables in the form of continuous loops mounted in tensioned condi-tion between the end supports;

(3) a pair of sheaves having grooves holding and guiding each `of said cables, the sheaves :being mounted on the end supports and freely rotatable about the vertical axes thereof, each of the plurality of cables of one nof said barrier sections being vertically displaced from a corresponding 'one of the cables of the ladjacent barrier section, the corresponding cables of the succession of barrier sections forming Ia continuous line, a like plurality of pairs of vertically displaced ones of said sheaves -being mounted on each end support, each pair of said vertically displaced sheaves holding and guiding the corresponding cables of :adjacent ones of said barrier sections, one of said corresponding cables extending into one of the adjacent barrier sections and the other one' of the 2. The protective barrierV of claim 1, each end support including a shaft whereon the sheaves are freely rotatably journaled, and further comprising spacing sleeves mounted on the shaft between the sheaves, and a protective capr mounted on the shaft over the sheaves.

3. The protective barrier of claim 1, wherein the elastic means is a wheel mounted 0n each end Supportforrotation about the vertical axis thereof and a shock absorbing member on the periphery of the wheel, the wheel'y projecting towards the road beyond the sheaves. Y

4. The protective .barrier of claim 3, wherein said shock absorbing member is a thick rubber tube having an air-filled annular cavity of small diameter in respect to the outer diameter of the rubber tube.

5. The protective barrier of claim 1, further oornpris-` ing spacing sleeves mounted on the end supports between the wheel and adiacent ones of said support elements.

6. The protective barrier of claim 1, further'compris ing a concrete footing for each end support; each support including a tubular base member embedded in the con; crete footing, a tubular shaft supported on the tubular base member yand an :annular shoulder on the tubular shaft; the sheaves being freely rotatably journaled on the tubular shaft; a lowest one of the sheaves being supported against vertical displacement by said 'annular shoulder and a spacing sleeve being mounted on the tubular shaf between the sheaves.

7. The protective barrier of claim 1further comprising a plurality of spaced apart anti-glare screens ,arranged` along fthe barrier obliquely in respect of the direction of elongation of the road and barrier.

8. The protective barrier of claim 7, wherein each of said end supports carries one of said anti-glare screens.

9. The protective lbarrier of claim 7, further comprising support posts positioned between the end supports and carrying said anti-glare screens.

i References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 488,174 6/ 1893 Phelps. 1,795,247 3/1931 Burns u 256-l3.1 1,805,731 5/ 1931 Beckwith 52-296 X 1,870,639 8/ 1932 Mueller 256-1 2,095,832 10/ 1937 Retzke 52-296 2,776,116 1/1957A Brichman 256-13.1 3,114,303 12/1963 Oberback 256-13.1, X 3,141,655 7/1964 Platt 256-1 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,300,536 6/1962 France.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROTECTIVE BARRIER FOR ROAD SHOULDERS AND MEDIANS TO PREVENT MOTOR VEHICLES FROM LEAVING THE ROAD AND TO GUDE THEM BACK INTO THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, COMPRISING A SUCCESSION OF ADJACENT BARRIER SECTIONS, EACH SECTION INCLUDING (1) TWO VERTICAL END SUPPORTS DELIMITING EACH SECTION AND BEING SPACED APART BY MORE THAN TWO MOTOR VEHICLE LENGTHS, THE VERTICAL AXES OF THE END SUPPORTS DEFINING A PLANE OF SYMMETRY FOR SAID BARRIER, SAID PLANE OF SYMMETRY EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE ROAD; (2) A PLURALITY OF CABLES IN THE FORM OF CONTINUOUS LOOPS MOUNTED IN TENSIONED CONDITION BETWEEN THE END SUPPORTS; (3) A PAIR OF SHEAVES HAVING GROOVES HOLDING AND GUIDING EACH OF SAID CABLES, THE SHEAVES BEING MOUNTED ON THE END SUPPORTS AND FREELY ROTATABLE ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXES THEREOF, EACH OF THE PLURALITY OF CABLES OF ONE OF SAID BARRIER SECTIONS BEING VERTICALLY DISPLACED FROM A CORRESPONDING ONE OF THE CABLES OF THE ADJACENT BARRIER SECTION, THE CORRESPONDING CABLES OF THE SUCCESSION OF BARRIER SECTIONS FORMING A CONTINUOUS LINE, A LIKE PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF VERTICALLY DISPLACED ONES OF SAID SHEAVES BEING MOUNTED ON EACH END SUPPORT, EACH PAIR OF SAID VERTICALLY DISPLACED SHEAVES HOLDING AND GUIDING THE CORRESPONDING CABLES OF ADJACENT ONES OF SAID BARRIER SECTIONS, ONE OF SAID CORRESPONDING CABLES EXTENDING INTO ONE OF THE ADJACENT BARRIER SECTIONS AND THE OTHER ONE OF THE CORRESPONDING CABLES EXTENDING INTO THE OTHER ONE OF THE ADJACENT BARRIER SECTIONS; AND (4) ELASTIC MEANS ARRANGED TO FACE THE ROAD AND TO PROTECT THE END SUPPORTS AND THE SHEAVES FROM DIRECT CONTACT WITH AN ONCOMING MOTOR VEHCLE; (5) THE CABLE LOOPS, THE SHEAVES AND THE ELASTIC MEANS BEING ARRANGED SYMMETRICALLY IN RESPECT OF SAID PLANE OF SYMMETRY. 